Home Office

Police: Counter-terrorism

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 24 November (HL3373), what procedures exist for challenging and correcting Prevent practitioners who include participation in anti-fracking groups within their training materials.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Prevent is about safeguarding vulnerable people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Prevent training is kept under continued review, and feedback is provided to ensure training materials address the risk of terrorism.

Department for Education

Grammar Schools

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government upon what basis the figure of £60 million each year for the expansion of grammar schools over the remainder of this Parliament was decided; who was consulted; and what calculations were made.

Lord Nash: On September 12th the Secretary of State announced that we are consulting on a range of policy proposals aimed at increasing the number of good and outstanding school places. As part of this, we proposed to make dedicated funding, of up to £50m a year, to support the expansion of existing selective schools to provide additional good quality selective places. This funding was confirmed at the Autumn Statement. In addition, Barnett Consequentials of £10m per year will be paid to the Devolved Administrations in the normal way. The Department has considered a range of sources in arriving at this commitment, including the average costs of building under existing DfE programmes and bids to the Condition Improvement Fund. Final proposals for the operation of the fund will be set out once we have considered responses to the current consultation.

Grammar Schools

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the announcement in the Autumn Statement that funding would be made available for the expansion of grammar schools, whether new legislation will be introduced to Parliament to achieve this.

Lord Nash: The Department announced its intention to make up to £50m dedicated funding available each year to support the expansion of existing grammar schools in the consultation ‘Schools that work for everyone’, which was launched on 12 September. Current legislation permits all categories of schools, including grammar schools, to expand so legislation is not required to implement this proposal.

Grammar Schools

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the money in the Autumn Statement for the expansion of grammar schools will be allocated; what variables will be used to make the decision; and what assessment criteria are in place to ensure that the funding is being used appropriately.

Lord Nash: The intention to make up to £50m dedicated funding available each year to support the expansion of existing grammar schools is one of a range of proposals included in the consultation ‘Schools that work for everyone’, which was launched on 12 September. We will announce further details of our policy proposals once we have had the opportunity to consider the consultation outcomes.